IT’S 239 days until the football World Cup lands in North America. The United States, Canada, and Mexico will stage the beautiful game for 39 days of drama, passion, and spectacle.
This past week, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland all played out their latest qualifiers as they look to book a place on the plane next summer.
Boxing and football have long shared a mutual respect – footballers are often ringside at big fights, and boxers frequently show their allegiance draped in the colours of their favourite clubs.
With that in mind, Boxing News wonders what kind of World Cup starting XI could be formed from today’s crop of boxing stars. A team ready to do a job in America next summer.
Here’s our line-up that packs a punch.
Goalkeeper: Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk
World-class reflexes, spectacular agility, and a master of mind games during penalty shoot-outs.
Left-back: William “El Camaron” Zepeda
The Mexican machine never stops. Aggressive in the tackle, relentless in stamina, and always up for a battle. Wingers beware.
Centre-back: Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello
Italian defending is a tradition, and Vianello fits the bill. The 6ft 6in giant might make the odd mistake, but he’d give everything for the shirt every time.
Centre-back: Jai Opetaia
Intimidating, athletic, and strong – the Aussie eats strikers for breakfast. Always in position and never shy about brushing attackers aside.
Right-back: Christian “Solide” Mbilli
Like Zepeda, this French powerhouse has an engine that never quits. A physical presence who can bomb forward as effectively as he defends.
Left-midfield: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez
Dynamic, tricky, and inventive on the flank. Rodriguez’s footwork and balance would leave full-backs in knots.
Centre-midfield: Nick “The Wrecking” Ball
The Scouse dynamo may only stand 5ft 2in, but his bite is far bigger. Expect crunching tackles, a few yellow cards, and endless energy. The heartbeat of the team.
Centre-midfield: Lewis “The Croc” Crocker
Once seen as a one-trick pony, the Belfast baller has developed patience, discipline, and a lethal finish. The perfect partner for Ball in the middle of the park.
Right-midfield: Adam “The Assassin” Azim
A deadly striker of the ball with world-class delivery. Capable of whipping in dangerous crosses and blasting in blockbusters from distance.
Centre-forward: Naoya “Monster” Inoue
Potent, nimble, and explosive. The “Monster” would terrify defenders, capable of scoring from anywhere, any time.
Centre-forward: Moses Itauma
A heavyweight who moves like a middleweight. Deceptively quick, immensely strong, and the perfect foil for Inoue up front.
Manager: Eddie Hearn
A master motivator with unrivalled self-belief. Capable of a rousing half-time team talk and the ultimate hype man to bring out the best in his squad.
